Amsterdam News in English
Amsterdam news in English — daily headlines from Dutch local newspapers covering housing, transport, city politics, neighbourhoods, culture and events, for expats, international students and English-speaking residents.
David runs 2,000 km to Rome in 60 days: Giving back after brother's difficult time
David from Amsterdam is embarking on a 60-day, 2,000-kilometer run to Rome to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House. The initiative is a tribute to the support his family received during his broth...
Minister calls ban on Grok undressing feature a good signal
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel welcomed a ruling by an Amsterdam court to ban the 'undressing' function of the AI chatbot Grok. The minister described the decision as a positive signal for vict...
Chinouk (29) runs through RAI to fight cancer: ‘My mother died after an illness of just eight days’
Chinouk van de Kuil is organizing a unique charity run through the RAI convention center in Amsterdam to raise funds for the Dutch Cancer Society. The event honors her mother, who passed away from can...
From parking garage fire to overshooting plane at the Kaagbaan: dozens of new PFAS suspect sites at Schiphol
A systematic investigation into soil and water at Schiphol Airport has identified approximately 100 locations with confirmed or potential PFAS contamination. These suspect sites are linked to historic...
Brian dreams of a job with the Italian commandos: ‘In that line of work you can really serve your country’
Nineteen-year-old Brian, an Italian living in the Netherlands, dreams of joining the Italian commandos to serve his country. He expresses a strong desire to find a career where he can make a significa...
Dead woman found in Koninginneweg home, police investigate for hours
Amsterdam police are investigating a residence on Koninginneweg in the Oud-Zuid district after a woman's body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon. Forensic teams were deployed to the scene as authorit...
Hema wins Gouden Loeki for Christmas commercial featuring Takkie and Siepie cheering up sick girl
Hema and advertising agency Hotel L’Amour have won the Gouden Loeki award for the best television commercial of the year for the third consecutive year. The winning Christmas advertisement, which fe...
Public Prosecution Service prosecutes two for assault and discrimination on VU campus
The Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting two 25-year-old students for assault and discriminatory behavior occurring on the Vrije Universiteit campus in Amsterdam last November. The suspects...
No local 'opposition party' in the council: 'Today's protest party is right-wing populist'
Amsterdam currently lacks a distinct local protest party in its city council, a significant shift from the influential activist movements of the 1960s and 70s. Historian Bas Kok suggests this is becau...
Heavy damage to homes after Slotermeer ATM bombing: "My son was too scared to go to school"
An ATM explosion at Slotermeerlaan in Amsterdam caused significant damage to residential buildings and injured a teenager early this morning. Local residents reported being in shock from the blast, wh...
Brad Pitt in Amsterdam? Even the most level-headed locals turn into hysterical fans
Brad Pitt was spotted walking along the canals in Amsterdam this week, appearing incognito with messy hair. His presence caused a rare wave of excitement among locals who typically remain indifferent ...
Haarlem band Eskalatie breathes new life into ska music
Eskalatie, a 12-member band from Haarlem, is reviving Dutch-language ska music by blending high-energy performances with social commentary. The group recently won the Rob Acda Award and has upcoming p...
Judge bans undressing feature in Grok chatbot
A court in Amsterdam has banned the "undressing function" of the Grok chatbot in the Netherlands following a summary judgment. The legal challenge was brought by victim support organizations and safet...
Judge rules Grok may not undress people online with AI software
An Amsterdam court has ruled that the AI chatbot Grok is prohibited from generating and distributing AI-generated 'undressing' images and child pornographic material in the Netherlands. This decision ...
Man beaten unconscious during bike robbery in Vondelpark
A man was assaulted and robbed of his bicycle in Amsterdam's Vondelpark on March 16, resulting in him losing consciousness after being attacked twice. Police are currently searching for the suspect an...
Schiphol considers handling assistance for passengers with disabilities itself
Schiphol Airport is considering managing assistance for passengers with disabilities internally instead of outsourcing the service to external firms. This move follows criticism from the FNV trade uni...
Ajax covered up massive 2017 data breach
Ajax reportedly covered up a significant data leak in 2017 by signing a non-disclosure agreement with the ethical hacker who discovered it. The agreement, recently revealed by BNR, was signed by the h...
Two suspects (17 and 30) arrested for massive fireworks that caused Ajax-Groningen to be abandoned
Police have arrested two suspects, aged 17 and 30, for inciting a massive fireworks display during an Ajax-Groningen football match on November 30. The incident, involving approximately 150 supporters...
In the alternative reality where a Redditor rewrote the rules, Patrick Brouwer is firmly at the top
A recent draw between Feyenoord and Ajax in 'De Klassieker' serves as an example of how football statistics like xG do not always reflect the actual quality of a match. Despite data suggesting an acti...
Items from death row on display at memorial for civil registry attack
The Resistance Museum in Amsterdam is commemorating the anniversary of the attack on the city's population register this Friday. The event features an exhibition of personal belongings from three resi...
Building on Confuciusplein closed for six months after discovery of cocaine, hashish, cigarettes, vapes and alcohol
Mayor Halsema has ordered the six-month closure of a building on Confuciusplein in Amsterdam following a police raid that uncovered cocaine, hashish, illegal vapes, and cigarettes. The premises were b...
Ali B's lawyer seeks acquittal in Heiloo rape case
The lawyer for rapper Ali B has requested an acquittal from the Amsterdam court of appeal regarding charges of sexual assault and rape. The allegations stem from an incident involving a woman during a...
Heritage of the Week | Amsterdam Car City
This 'Heritage of the Week' feature examines Amsterdam's history as a car-centric city, visible through the wide streets of Plan Zuid and specialized garage buildings. These urban elements highlight t...
Ajax player Bounida receives first call-up for Morocco
Ajax winger Rayane Bounida has received his first call-up to the Moroccan national football team. The 20-year-old player is part of the squad selected for upcoming friendly matches against Ecuador and...
Ali B silent upon arrival for second day of sex crimes trial
Rapper Ali B arrived at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal for the second day of his sexual assault trial. He is facing charges involving two counts of assault and two counts of rape. The artist remained s...
Another ATM bombing, this time on Slotermeerlaan
An ATM on Slotermeerlaan in Amsterdam Nieuw-West was targeted by an explosion early Thursday morning, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents in the region this week. Police have cordoned ...
New university library also overcrowded: Half an hour searching and still no spot
Students at the University of Amsterdam are facing severe overcrowding at the newly opened library on the former Binnengasthuisterrein, often lining up before opening to secure a spot. While the facil...
River cruise ship hits Amsterdamsebrug, captain slightly injured
A river cruise ship collided with the Amsterdamsebrug over the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal on Wednesday evening, causing significant damage to the vessel's wheelhouse and slightly injuring the skipper. The ...
Residents without elevator for a month and no solution in sight: It’s going so painfully slow
Residents of a ten-story apartment building in Amsterdam's Haarlemmerbuurt have been without a functioning elevator for a month, leaving many elderly tenants trapped or struggling with stairs. Housing...
Rijkswaterstaat faces €20.5 billion shortfall, highway ramps to close: ‘Must make choices’
Rijkswaterstaat is facing a 20.5 billion euro budget deficit, leading to the indefinite closure of highway ramps across the Netherlands, such as the A2 ramp near Abcoude towards Amsterdam. The agency ...